Welcome World

Welcome World to Astrid on the Go, my personal blog where I will share  my exciting and interesting life. Today started with a call from Leanne Clement, executive director for Opera Louisiane. The purpose of the call was to invite me to become a Board member of this young and dynamic Baton Rouge performing arts organization. I was happy to accept because I was a former vocal performance major at the LSU Music School, something she did no know. Opera Louisiane is expanding and developing its organization through diverse board appointments. I was recommended to join the Board by Adam Knapp, CEO of the Baton Rouge Chamber of Commerce, due to my long service on Chamber's Board and my extensive business contacts in our city. What Ms. Clement didn't know at the time of the call was that I am an "arts enthusiast" with an educational background in music and an extensive list of prior Board appointments to  many local Arts organizations. I was thrilled to get the call and the personal request for service. One of my passions is to "give back" to the things that have "given to me." Music has been one of my "greatest" personal pleasures from the first solo I sang,"Singing in the Rain," when I was five years old to the folksong group I was in that won my junior high talent contest, to my summer at the "Mozarteum" where I studied with the famous coloratura, Rita Streich, as well as the countless weddings and music recitals in which I have sung. Music is an universal language that touches the heart and soul of people. Music has the power to calm, excite and heal mankind. With this new challenge I will be able to help our Art's community thrive and make Baton Rouge a happier, more enriched community.